Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Buffalo, NY: $109,347 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Buffalo, NY earns a median $109,347/year (≈ $52.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Buffalo's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.8), that paycheck buys what $114,089 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.3% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Buffalo, NY, nuclear medicine technologists are projected to earn a median annual salary of $109,347 in 2026, which not only exceeds the national average of $106,398 but also highlights the city's competitive compensation for this vital healthcare role. The salary range for these professionals spans from $81,984 at the 10th percentile to $113,955 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse job market. These figures are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys. The structure of job opportunities in Buffalo plays an interesting role in compensation, with employment split between hospital departments and outpatient PET centers, both of which can impact pay rates based on demand and specialization.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,984 | $39.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $94,202 | $45.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $109,347 | $52.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $110,565 | $53.16 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,955 | $54.79 |
Median Salary Position
2.77% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Buffalo
In Buffalo, NY, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,971 (2026 est.). At $109,347, the local median is 2.77% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Buffalo: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Buffalo Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Buffalo median: $109,347/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Buffalo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $123,278 | -11.30% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | +2.77% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Buffalo, NY earn a median of $109,347 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.77% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 11.30% below the New York state average of $123,278.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Buffalo has a cost of living 4.16% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Buffalo, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.844 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $109,347 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $114,089 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.34% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$79,530
2025 BLS Actual
$104,180
2026 Current Est.
$109,347
2019–2027 Growth
+44.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Buffalo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $79,530 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,740 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,450 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,220 | Actual |
| 2025 | $104,180 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $109,347 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $114,771 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Buffalo metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 31.0% from $79,530 (2019) to $104,180 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $114,771 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,241 (44.31%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Buffalo metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $81,984 – $94,202 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $94,202 – $109,347 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $109,347 – $110,565 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $110,565 – $113,955 |
NMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nuclear medicine technologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Market in Buffalo
Currently, there are 70 nuclear medicine technologists employed in Buffalo, and with a cost of living index of 95.844, the take-home pay for these professionals stretches further than in many other cities. Among local employers, positions at hospital nuclear medicine departments often offer higher salaries than outpatient PET imaging centers or cardiology practices, but demand for skills in advanced technologies, like theranostics and PET/CT imaging, is growing. Variations in pay often stem from experience with specific modalities, on-call requirements, and the differences between SPECT and PET imaging roles. For those looking to maximize their nuclear medicine technologist pay in Buffalo, gaining cross-training in CT, seeking roles at theranostics centers, and enhancing certifications through organizations such as SNMMI-TS can pave the way for higher earnings and job stability.
More salary data for Buffalo, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in nuclear medicine. She specializes in PET imaging at a community hospital. She analyzes trends in the nuclear medicine job market.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $104,180 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Buffalo metropolitan area. A 4.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT, a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov